Rajasthan has raised the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) with the Prime Minister.
Why is this in the news?
- The Chief Minister has stated that the state government cannot bear the estimated project cost of around Rs 40,000 crore on its own.
- The state wants the Centre to declare this a national project, resulting in a 90:10 cost-sharing ratio between the Centre and the state.
Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP)
- Project for the Eastern Rajasthan Canal (ERCP)
- ERCP was established with the goal of providing water to the state’s drought-prone areas.
- It aims to harvest excess water in rivers in southern Rajasthan, such as the Chambal and its tributaries Kunnu, Parvati, and Kalisindh, during the rainy season.
- The project entails the construction of two canals: the Chambal Canal (which flows from the Chambal River) and the East Rajasthan Canal (which originates from the Mahi River)
- The ERCP is expected to irrigate approximately 3.4 million hectares of agricultural land in the states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
- It is expected to cost around Rs 51,000 crore and be completed by 2021.
- About 2.6 million farmers in Rajasthan and another 2.4 million in Madhya Pradesh were expected to benefit from the project.
When was the ERCP first proposed?
- The Rajasthan government stated in the state budget for 2017-18 that the ERCP will help meet the long-term irrigation and drinking water needs of 13 districts: Jhalawar, Baran, Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Tonk, Jaipur, Karauli, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dausa, and Dholpur.
- The Central Water Commission approved the project in 2017.
- The state government had proposed to the federal government that ERCP be designated as a national priority project.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/ercp-rajasthan-rivers-project-ashok-gehlot-narendra-modi-8440734/#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20aim%20of,eastern%20districts%20of%20the%20state.